“U.S. Defense Secretary’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Departs Brussels”

On June 14, 2024, the Boeing E-4B aircraft, often referred to as the “Doomsday Plane,” departed from Brussels Airport carrying U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin back to the United States. The E-4B, a militarized version of the Boeing 747-200, serves as a mobile command post for the nation’s senior military leadership during national emergencies.

Secretary Austin had been in Brussels attending high-level meetings with NATO allies. The departure of the E-4B, with its distinctive profile and specialized communication equipment, drew attention from aviation enthusiasts and local media.

The E-4B is designed to serve as an airborne operations center in the event of a national emergency or destruction of ground command facilities. Its presence in Europe underscores the ongoing strategic discussions among NATO members and the United States’ commitment to its European allies.

As the aircraft took off from Brussels, it marked the end of another diplomatic mission for Secretary Austin and highlighted the continued importance of the E-4B in supporting high-level government operations and national security.